Vehicle.



PATENTED DEC. 17 E. U. BRUEN.

VEHICLE. urmouron FILED 001211. 1905.

5 SHEETSBHB HT 1- wfizeaaass M LU) PATENTED DEC. 1'7, 190?.

E. G. BRUEN.

SSHEBTS-SHBHT 2.

PATENTED DEC. 17, 1907.

E. O. BRUEN.

VEHICLE. APPLICATION FILED 001211. 1906.

6 SHEE'ESSHEET 4.

No. 873.711. PATENTED DEC. 17, 1907.

E.G.BRUEN. VEHICLE.

APPLIOATION FILED OOT.11. 1906.

5 sunnrs-srism 5,

MQW 1% UNITE EDWIN o. BRUEN, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

VEHICLE.

, abouts.

' One object of my invention is to produce an automobile body or chassiswhich can be entirely closed to form a closed case of rectangular orother desirable shape and constitute a trunkor inclosing case for allparts of the automobile whereby'the same can be locked and convenientlystored or shipped for transportation.

A further object is to provide practical means whereby when said truckor inclosing case is unlocked the body can be distended, variousparts ofthe same be manipulated to form the seat, back and front of the body orchassis, and the detachable'wheels secured in place to complete thevehicle and render it ready for immediate use as an automobile runabout.

With these objects in view my invention consists in the novel parts, andcombination of novel parts hereinafter described and pointed out in theclaims concluding this specification.

Figure 1, is a perspectiveview of a folding automobile embodyiing myinvention. Fig. 2, is a vertical central section thereof. Fig.

3, is a fragmentary side elevation' of the wheel I prefer toemployshowing a novel construction of spokes, and Fig. 4 a plan view ofthe spoke blank. Fig. 5; is a top plan show ing the chassis distendedand open, and Fig. 6, a similar view showing the chassis closed. Fig. 7,is a detail of one of the rear wheels and axle therefor. Fig. 8, is afront view in elevation of the cradle or holder for the engine or motoremployed. Fig. 9, is a detail of the holder for the gasolene tanks. Fig.10, is a detail showing the'removable portion of the vehicle body. Fig.11, is a perspective view of the skeleton frame of the front end ofchassis, the dotted lines indicat- 111 fold upwardly under the top ofthe skeleton frame. Fig. 12, is a detail showing the sections of thesteering rod telescoped together.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 11; 1906. Serial No. 338,355.

how the legs or vertical supporting rods Patented Dec. 17-, 1907.

Fig. 13, is a detail view of the steering knucsraaas Parana: FFTCEJkles, connecting arm, wheel hub, cotter pin and steering rod, theseveral parts being shown detached. Fig. 14, is a. vertical. sectionofthe frame or chassis closed and'locked, the forward extension thereofbeing shown by "dotted lines. and Fig. 16, a cross-section of thesupportin bracket for the extensible inner frame an adjustable'lockingmeans therefor. Figs. 17, and 18, are detail views of roller bearingsfor the rear axles. Fig. 19, is atop plan viewof Fig. 15, is averticafsection the spring steering head, and Fig. '20, a'detail of thesame. Fig. 21, is a perspective view of the extensible forward end ofthe chassis. Fig; 22, is a cross-section of a fragment of thebody'showing means for strengthening the same by interposing orinsertingtherein a wire fabric.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the severalfigures of the drawings.

The bodyor chassis of a vehicle embodying my improvements may be made ofpapier mach, artificial leather, wood veneering or I other suitablematerial, and may be strengthened if desirable with tubular Wire ashereinmaterial'which can be slid into its tube 10,

when the body or chassis is closed, or'extended forwardly therefrom whenthe latter is opened to form the vehicle, or in other words these tubestelescope together, and in this position are firmly. secured byremovable cotter pins 10 (see Figs. 15 and 16).

The forward end of'each tube 9, Will be brazed to a boss-extending froma sleeve'(not shown) suitably mounted on the forward axle 16 and theinner end of each tube 10, will be similarly brazed to a boss 31extending'from a sleeve 31, mounted on the rear axle 16.

The front wheels 7 are removably journaled to a single axle 16 whileeach rear wheel 7 is mounted upon a short axle 7, (see Fig. 7) the rearwheels being attached to the Wagon body by inserting each axle 7transversely through a sleeve 31, and securmg the axles in place bymeans of removable cotter-pins (see dotted lines Fig; .5). The

forward end 4 of the bodyor chassis consists of the-platform 4 which maybe mounted in any suitable mannerupon the bosses extending from-thesleeves mounted on the front axle-16 Upon this platform I mount a'skeletonframe consisting of the rectangular frame 44, having hinged ateach end thereof v be covered with ahood 43 (see Fig. 21 which 'may belmade of canvas or other suita 1e ma tenal, and be. attached to theplatform 41 by buttonsor clasps of any desirable construction. Thesteering head 12, is attached to the outer end of a sectional telescopicrod 13, 13 1A, the lower end of which is secured in the block 14, thelatter being removably 'mounted on the axle 16 The distended position ofthe steering head and telescopic steering rod isshown in Fig. 2, and itsclosed position is'shown in the detail view Fig. 12.

As shown "the steering rod extending from the steering head 12, consistsof three tubular sections 13, 13 and 14, preferably made of seamlesssteel tubing, the section 13, being adapted to telescope into thesection 13 and the section 13 telescoping into the section 14, as shownin 12. The lower endof the section 14, isprovidedfiwith a 'worm gear 14journaled in the block 14 this block'terminates in a'split-ring 14adapted to enga e the wheel buband is adjustably locked in p ace on thehubby means of a bolt arid'nut,'or in'other appropriate manner.

The block '14 is provided with extensions .14, in which a segment 14 ispivoted, and

"this'seg'ment engages the work gear 14 (see 2 and 12); the segment 14is connected b means of thearm 41 to the steering knucfkies 40cwhicharerespectively mounted in theusu'al'manner on the wheel hubs. While Ihave shownthe-steering rod composed of three tubular sectionspreferably. composed of seamless steeltubing, it is obvious that anydesired number of sections may be employed, and that any materialsuitable for the purpose may be used. The rear end of the bottom 3, ofthe'chassis is provided with a removable section 24, having bevelededges and supported on'metal brace strips 27, which extend-across thebottom 3, andmay be nailed or otherwise secured to the fixed sections ofthe bottom 3, the strips 27 being made wide enough to. form a seat forthe removable-section 24, When the latter is in place to close thebottom 3, as shown in Fig- 10; in this position the section 24, islocked in place by means of the spring locking catch 25, 26. The objectof providing this removable section for the-bottomof the bodv or"chassis, is: to: provide an. opening through which the brake and itsconnections may ex tend when the body or chassis is open as shown inFig. 2, and the braking mechanism is maintained 111 positlon foroperating, and

be utilized when necessarv.

' Fort-he purposes of. a light vehicle of the construction described andshown in the vided with an extension 15 to which 'on'e end ofa spring23,'is connected, theother,

end of this spring being secured to a clevis 17, havingan u wardlyextending staple 17, which is normal y in engagementwith a hook 17pivoted in a bracket 20,. mounted on the tube 10, as particularly shownin Fig. 2; the upper end of the pivoted hook 17 is fixed to a rod 21which extends forwardly and' terminates in a crank-shaped foot treadle'22. If anemergencyarises where it is necessary to use this brake, theoperator can by the pressure of his foot on the treadle 22, move the rod21 forwardly thereby disen: gaging the-hook 17 from the staple 17whereupon the brake rod 15 will fall downwardly and the shoe 1.5 comeinto contact with the round and act as a lever to raise the rear whee sfrom the-glround and quickly stop the momentum of t e vehicle; under succlrcumstances the spring 23, comes into play and has the tendency byreason of its resiliency to prevent any undue shock when the brakingmechanism is operated; the chain 18, one end of which is attached to theclevis 1-7, and the other end to the bracket 19, prevents the rod 15from passing rearwardly beyond an approximately perpendicular plane withrelation to the horizontal axis of i the axle 16. At the forward end ofthe bot-' tom 3, and when the chassis is 0 en and extended as shown inFig. 2, the orward end of the front board 8, will be secured to thebottom of the platform 4, by means of a hook or in any other convenientmanner so that it can be readily detached from the latform 4% when thechassis is closed to form a rectangular case as shown in Figs. 6

and 14, under such conditions the front board 8, inform the front end ofthe case and be provided with a lock 8 of any suitable construction, bymeans of which .the

case containing all the various-parts of the automobile can be lockedand be ready for convenient transportation and a handling. The foldin'seat I propose to employis' composed of t e movable'member 5, and thestationary member 5 ;'.'the movable member 5, when the body or chassisof the vehicle is open and extendedasshown inFig. '2 isperpendicularlysupported ,m thefl grooved brackets 5", these brackets being formedbyattaching appropriatokstrips to each of the sides 1 of the body; theseat roper 5 is permanently secured to thebrac ets 5 while the movablemember 5 ofthe seat, forms when in the position shown in 2, the back ofthe seat, and when adjusted to the position shown in Fig. 14 forms aclosing lid for the front end of the case. I

It will be seen from theforegoing description that the various parts ofthe complete vehicle shown in Fig. 2 can be readily adjusted andmanipulated so'that' all detachable parts of the vehicle can beconveniently packed within the body thereof and by means of the movablemember 5 of the seat, the movable section 24 of the bottom and thehinged section 8, a complete packing case will be made, which asheretofore stated can be locked. For instance the brake rod 15 and itsconi ections will be drawn up within the body and the movable section 24of the bottom inserted in place and locked; the hood 43-will beunbottoned or unclasped from the skeleton frame 44 and packed within thebody; the legs 45 of the skeleton frame 44 will be folded upwardly asshown in Fig. 11 and the frame packed in the body; the sectionaltelescopic steering rods will be disconnected from the front Wheel hub,

closed as shown in Fig. 12 and also packed in thebody; the frontwheels 7will be disconnected from the axle, and the rear wheels 7 and shortaxles 7 will be disconnected'from the sleeves 31 and all four wheelspacked in the body. The tube 9 will then be telescop 'ed into the tube10 carryin the forward part of the chassis with it, and t en by engagingand locking the member 5 of the seat and the hinged section 8, acomplete case will be formedinclosing all parts of the vehicle.

If a vehicle of the construction I have de-' scribed is to be operatedor driven by a gas or other internal combustion engine, I ropose to usethe partitioned frame 51, (see ig. 9) provided with flexible extensions52 for the pur ose of holding the gasolene tanks. When this partition 51is used it will be inclosed by the skeleton frame 44, and the tanksplaced in the partitioned frame 51 will be firmly held by means of theflexible extensions 52 so that these tanks will not be disturbed by theshocks and jars incident to the'running of an automobile. When a steamengine is used as the driving power ofthe vehicle, the partitioned frame51 Wlll be dis ensed with. v

In igs. 3 and 4 of the drawings I have shown a novel form of resilientspoke particularly adapted for a light vehicle of the construction Ihave described. I'propose to form the spokes 28 of flat spring steel(see Fig. 4); havin two tongues 30 struck up and bent, opposite y to eacother so that when the central portion 29 is bent to the elliptical formshown in Fig. 3, one tongue 30'will have abearing on top of the flatsection of the central portion 29 and the other, tongue- 30 1 impart tothe wheel great resiliency, absorb-' ing all jars and concussions andprecluding the same from being communicated to the vehicle body to anymaterial extent.

In Fig. 8 of the drawing I have shown a cradle or holder for the engineemployed to drive the vehicle. This cradle comprises a bed plate 46having two upwardly extending and inwardly curved flanges 47 and twooutwardly extending projections 47, by means of which the cradle may berigidly but removably secured to the vehicle as by bolts the enginecasing with the engine mounted in it is to be slid into this cradle fromthe front end thereof and pushed into place until the rear end of thebase plate of the casing bears against a shoulder formed at the rearendof the cradle, and then by means of the cam lock 49, the engine maybe firmly locked in place on the cradle.

As shown in Figs. 17 and 18 the rear axle 16 is provided with the usualball or roller bearings 33 which are confined in the sleeves 31; thelatter is provided with a screw cap 32 .by means of which the sleeve maybe opened curing the spring 34 to the outer ends of the spokes 35 I bendthe metal of the outer end of each spoke around the'spiral spring 34 soas to form a tubular head 36, at the outer end of each spoke inclosingthe spiral sprin 34; the, bent over end of each spoke is lappe back onthe body thereof and secured to the latter as by rivets 37. By thisconstruction I produce a flexible and resilient hand grip for thesteering mechanism which will compensate for the usual jars andconcussions 'w hich occur in running an automobile and will prevent thesame from being imparted to the operator. I w

In Fig. 22 I have shown strengthening means for the fabric or materialwhich may be used to make the body of the vehicle; this strengtheningmeans consists of interlaced wires, or interlaced wire fabric 38, whichis ficial leather, wood veneerin or other mate-- rial. I prefer toemploy hol ow wires as the strengthening medium.

. I have now described the construction and arrangement of the devicesembodying my invention so far' as the same pertain to the vehicle bodyor chassis, running gear, etc.,

, and it is obvious that one of the most important characteristics whichmark this invention resides inthe adjustment of the automobile body orchassis whereby a closing case 1 can be formed which will incloseall theparts of the automobile so that this case can be handled with the samefacility as a large trunk, and be readily stored, or'conveyed from placeto place as desired Hence it follows in orderto obtain this desirablefeature of advantage and novelty-that the various parts .of thevehicle Ihave described must combine lightness with strength and durability," andfor the, same reason-it is essential that the engine employed shodldhave similar qualifications and also be compact.

Any suitable motor or engine having these qualifications may be utilizedin connection with appropriate mechanism {whereby the power of the'motorcan be transmitted to propel or manipulate the vehicle, but as metors ofthis class and power transmission devices are well known it isunnecessary to paitl'cularly describe the same.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. An automobile body or chassis which can be adjusted to form aclosedcase of rectangular or other desirable shape and coni .stitute a trunkor inclosing case for all parts of body secured thereto, whereby saidslides 40 substantially as described.

the automobile, comprising an adjustabletop' section and end section,iandilongitudinally adjustable slides having the front end of the may beextended to' complete thechassis or retracted when the inclosing'case isformed,

' 2. An automobile body .or chassis which can be adjusted to form aclosed case of rectangular or otherdesirable. shape and constitute. atrunk or inclosing case for all parts of the automobile, comprising anadjustable top section,bottom section and end section,

and longitudinally ad'ustable slides having the "front end of the odysecured thereto,

whereby saidslides may be extended to complete the chassis or retractedwhen the'inclosing case is formed, substantially as described.

and end section, whereb opened and the-tubular 3. A case ofsubstantially rectangular shape and havingtelescoping extensible tubularframes mounted lon -'tudinally in brackets on the interior of eac sidethereof, and having a platform mounted on the outer ends thereof, saidcase being rovided with an ad'ust-able top section an end section, wherey said case can be-o ened and the tubular frames 'extended to orm thebody or chassis of an automobile, or closed to constltute a trunk-orlnclosing case, substantially as described.

4. A case of substantially rectangular closed to constitute a trunk orinclosing case,

substantially as described. 7

5. The combination with the material of which the frame orbodyiscomposed of a strengthening medium comprising interlaced hollow wire orinterlaced wire fabric interprovided with i posed or embedded in saidmaterial, substan tially as described. I 6. The combination with anautomobile body or chassis of substantially the construction describedof the skeleton frame 44, having the foldable legs 45, for the purposesset forth.

7. The combination with 4m automobilebody or chassis of substantiallythe construction described-of the detachable wheels 7, and means forsecuring the same in place to form the runnin gear of the vehicle, sub

stantially as descri ed. 8. The combination "7th the" skeleton frame 44,of the removable hood 4.3, substantially as described for the purposesstated.

Signed atNew Yorkcity in' the county'of ,New York and State of'New Yorkthis 27th y ril A. D. 1906.

,EDWIN Q'BRUENa Witnesses:

ERNEST owans, I WM. LAfiBREorrn

